High School Student Disarms Gunman and Gets Suspended

Summary: A student pulled a gun on a bus and pointed it to another students head. A couple of other students tackled the gun holder and disarmed him. They were then issued an "emergency suspension" for being involved in an incident involving a weapon. Do you think the school acted appropriately or is this another example of Zero Tolerance gone bad?

Summary: A student pulled a gun on a bus and pointed it to another students head. A couple of other students tackled the gun holder and disarmed him. They were then issued an "emergency suspension" for being involved in an incident involving a weapon. Do you think the school acted appropriately or is this another example of Zero Tolerance gone bad?

Yes that is zero tolerance gone bad. It shows that doing the right thing (saving a life) doesn't always pay. It is ridiculous that they are suspending the others. While I typically go with the if you get into a fight all deserve suspensions, this wasn't just 2 guys fist fighting, the person had a loaded gun and intended to shoot someone. If I was the parents of the Heroes I would lawyer up to have the suspension removed from their file and not limit their activities. In my school district suspended students can play sports, go on field trips or go to dances for that quarter.

Yes that is zero tolerance gone bad. It shows that doing the right thing (saving a life) doesn't always pay. It is ridiculous that they are suspending the others. While I typically go with the if you get into a fight all deserve suspensions, this wasn't just 2 guys fist fighting, the person had a loaded gun and intended to shoot someone. If I was the parents of the Heroes I would lawyer up to have the suspension removed from their file and not limit their activities. In my school district suspended students can play sports, go on field trips or go to dances for that quarter.

Something similar happened at a school near me not to long ago. One student (grade 10 I believe) pulled a knife on another, and a witnessing student acted immediately to tackle and disarm him. He was suspended because "he should have notified a teacher instead of getting involved". He said he didn't think there was time, and in his mind, he was possibly saving someone's life. So dumb, and it makes me irate. Punish innocent kids, who really, are heroes.

Something similar happened at a school near me not to long ago. One student (grade 10 I believe) pulled a knife on another, and a witnessing student acted immediately to tackle and disarm him. He was suspended because "he should have notified a teacher instead of getting involved". He said he didn't think there was time, and in his mind, he was possibly saving someone's life. So dumb, and it makes me irate. Punish innocent kids, who really, are heroes.

I thought it was common practice to suspend all involoved parties? It's ridiculous, but yeah. In a situation less dangerous where one kid hits another, even if they don't hit back they are suspended for their own safety while they sort things out. At least that's what they do here.

I thought it was common practice to suspend all involoved parties? It's ridiculous, but yeah. In a situation less dangerous where one kid hits another, even if they don't hit back they are suspended for their own safety while they sort things out. At least that's what they do here.

If they were more specific when they issued the suspension that it was in fact for the students safety, and not a poor reflection of their character, most people I think would be way more receptive. The cases I've seen make it look like the student deserved it, because they got involved when they shouldn't have. When it is literally a case of life or death, I don't think "punishment" should even be in the vocabulary for the innocent party. It sets a very negative message about helping others.

Don't stop a student from shooting another, you'll just get suspended. Don't break a car window to save a baby, you might get sued. Don't defend a person being mugged, you may get charged with assault....

If they were more specific when they issued the suspension that it was in fact for the students safety, and not a poor reflection of their character, most people I think would be way more receptive. The cases I've seen make it look like the student deserved it, because they got involved when they shouldn't have. When it is literally a case of life or death, I don't think "punishment" should even be in the vocabulary for the innocent party. It sets a very negative message about helping others.

Don't stop a student from shooting another, you'll just get suspended. Don't break a car window to save a baby, you might get sued. Don't defend a person being mugged, you may get charged with assault....

That is the kind of punishment a robot would dole out. That's ridiculous. Since when did punishments not take into account the situation at the time of the incident? Mindlessly doling out consequences without amending them based on the offender and the situation is unfair.

That is the kind of punishment a robot would dole out. That's ridiculous. Since when did punishments not take into account the situation at the time of the incident? Mindlessly doling out consequences without amending them based on the offender and the situation is unfair.

Exactly. I don't agree with it. I think Zero Tolerance is crap in general. Life is not one size fits all event. And it definitely discourages 'heroic' action. They say it's for their own safety. Because you know, letting someone shoot someone else so that you won't get shot is what we should be teaching our kids...{} It's that whole 'bystander' mindset. When in reality that kid likely saved many lives, not just the one.

Exactly. I don't agree with it. I think Zero Tolerance is crap in general. Life is not one size fits all event. And it definitely discourages 'heroic' action. They say it's for their own safety. Because you know, letting someone shoot someone else so that you won't get shot is what we should be teaching our kids...{} It's that whole 'bystander' mindset. When in reality that kid likely saved many lives, not just the one.

Also, imagine the emotional toll that would have on every one of those children! He not only saved the life of that child, he saved the whole school from a lot of grief, and having kids miss school due to said grief and trauma.

Also, imagine the emotional toll that would have on every one of those children! He not only saved the life of that child, he saved the whole school from a lot of grief, and having kids miss school due to said grief and trauma.

This has actually happened a few times in my area in the last couple if years. At least one of the situations involved a gun, and others with knives.

I'll go against the grain and say it was appropriate. If there are rules in place about how to act in a situation involving a weapon, and students choose to play hero and not follow the rules, they have put their life at risk. They have also exponentially increased the level of danger in a situation. I don't have an issue with the school enforcing a rule when it comes to the safety of all students.

A while back, there was a thread involving a woman who was fired for trying to apprehend a thief. The general consensus I believe, was that the store acted appropriately because she broke the policy and risked lives. I wonder how these situations are any different?

*Obviously, the extent and severity of the suspensions should be different for the student who stopped the attack/threat and the attacker. Well, realistically the attacker would likely be expelled.

This has actually happened a few times in my area in the last couple if years. At least one of the situations involved a gun, and others with knives.

I'll go against the grain and say it was appropriate. If there are rules in place about how to act in a situation involving a weapon, and students choose to play hero and not follow the rules, they have put their life at risk. They have also exponentially increased the level of danger in a situation. I don't have an issue with the school enforcing a rule when it comes to the safety of all students.

A while back, there was a thread involving a woman who was fired for trying to apprehend a thief. The general consensus I believe, was that the store acted appropriately because she broke the policy and risked lives. I wonder how these situations are any different?

*Obviously, the extent and severity of the suspensions should be different for the student who stopped the attack/threat and the attacker. Well, realistically the attacker would likely be expelled.

I remember the store theft thread. I think the real difference is the level of threat and the impact that has on time to follow procedure.

In the theft aspect it was an adult in a non physical situation, that she escalated into a physical altercation. She had been following the individual and really had plenty of time to alert the appropriate supervisors and even to just take the identification of the license plate rather than try to engage the individual to retrieve the items.

In the case of a drawn and loaded weapon the situation only had seconds to stop. It was already a physical altercation and if the only adult authority on the bus was the driver and that that individual was actively driving then it is not unreasonable to assume the adult could not have intervened in time.

I think pulling everyone into the office individually and getting the details from them while detaining the child with the gun would have been an appropriate start. Then depending on the details determining if the children's actions were reasonable and minimal physical contact (ie they did not beat the other child unconscious or something) then I would offer them an excused day off and possible a session with the counselor to think through some other options they may have been able to use in such a situation and to reflect on what they did do. Basically a debriefing.

Laura

I remember the store theft thread. I think the real difference is the level of threat and the impact that has on time to follow procedure.

In the theft aspect it was an adult in a non physical situation, that she escalated into a physical altercation. She had been following the individual and really had plenty of time to alert the appropriate supervisors and even to just take the identification of the license plate rather than try to engage the individual to retrieve the items.

In the case of a drawn and loaded weapon the situation only had seconds to stop. It was already a physical altercation and if the only adult authority on the bus was the driver and that that individual was actively driving then it is not unreasonable to assume the adult could not have intervened in time.

I think pulling everyone into the office individually and getting the details from them while detaining the child with the gun would have been an appropriate start. Then depending on the details determining if the children's actions were reasonable and minimal physical contact (ie they did not beat the other child unconscious or something) then I would offer them an excused day off and possible a session with the counselor to think through some other options they may have been able to use in such a situation and to reflect on what they did do. Basically a debriefing.

I would certainly support anyone who bravely took action to prevent the loss of life. I also don't think it would be the end of the world to be suspended for 3 days for breaking a rule like that. I guess, as a parent, I would respect the decision of the school in that a rule was broken, but there would be absolutely no consequences to my child at home for being suspended for taking action.

Yeah, I can definitely see your point here.

I would certainly support anyone who bravely took action to prevent the loss of life. I also don't think it would be the end of the world to be suspended for 3 days for breaking a rule like that. I guess, as a parent, I would respect the decision of the school in that a rule was broken, but there would be absolutely no consequences to my child at home for being suspended for taking action.

Seems nuts to punish the kids for their bravery although it was maybe not the smartest thing to do BUT what I really wanna know is why does this dumb sh!t ALWAYS happen in Florida?!?!?!?! I'm so glad we moved last year. I still feel I should hang my head in shame sometimes admitting I'm from south florida. My husband has started calling it Flori-duh. I have to agree with him.

Seems nuts to punish the kids for their bravery although it was maybe not the smartest thing to do BUT what I really wanna know is why does this dumb sh!t ALWAYS happen in Florida?!?!?!?! I'm so glad we moved last year. I still feel I should hang my head in shame sometimes admitting I'm from south florida. My husband has started calling it Flori-duh. I have to agree with him.

Wait never mind. This was my hometown, not the stabbing. It happened a while Ago, so that's why I thought... Never mind. Anywho, yeah that city has gone wayyyyyy downhill. The schools Are crowded, lots of poverty, lots of crime.

Wait never mind. This was my hometown, not the stabbing. It happened a while Ago, so that's why I thought... Never mind. Anywho, yeah that city has gone wayyyyyy downhill. The schools Are crowded, lots of poverty, lots of crime.

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here